QUOTE
Dear xxxxx,
The Australian College of Midwives has been made aware of considerable discussion taking place on social media sites during the last week in relation to a midwife from Western Australia who is currently under investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
Due to the NMBA requirements around confidentiality in these matters, the identity of the midwife, details of the notification made concerning the midwife’s practise and the investigation/actions of the NMBA have been unknown to the ACM until the start of this week, when the midwife herself approached the ACM for support.
While the ongoing investigation by the NMBA remains confidential the ACM has received confirmation that the case involves a VBAC at home and that the midwife was reported to the NMBA by a hospital in Western Australia.
At this point in time the ACM has not been approached by the NMBA or the legal representatives of the Midwife to provide formal advice around this investigation however, the ACM position on homebirth remains that;
Women have the right to choose where and how they wish to give birth. In Australia, the majority of women will choose to give birth in a hospital or birth centre. Some women will choose to birth at home. Whatever place of birth a woman chooses, a women and her family have the right to expect that the care she receives is provided by appropriately skilled attendants and is safe.
It is the position of the Australian College of Midwives that homebirth is an appropriate place of birth for women considered to be at low obstetric risk, and that women must be supported in safe, planned homebirth, by midwives with adequate access to support, advice, and referral and transfer mechanisms.
This position supports the use of the National Competency Standards for the Midwife, the Code of Professional Conduct for Midwives in Australia, the Code of Ethics for Midwives in Australia, the Australian College of Midwives National Midwifery Guidelines for Consultation and Referral (“the Guidelines”) and the NHMRC Guidance on Collaborative Maternity Care as the appropriate resources for guiding midwives in their practice.
In Australia, registered midwives are responsible and accountable professionals who provide support, care and advice to women and their families during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period which is in accordance with the International Definition of a Midwife. As stated in this definition, such midwifery care can be provided in any setting, including the home.
The ACM Board of Directors is meeting on the 22nd July and the issue of VBAC at home (HBAC) is on the Agenda for further discussion.
Yours sincerely,
Tracy Martin
ACM President
The Australian College of Midwives has been made aware of considerable discussion taking place on social media sites during the last week in relation to a midwife from Western Australia who is currently under investigation by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
Due to the NMBA requirements around confidentiality in these matters, the identity of the midwife, details of the notification made concerning the midwife’s practise and the investigation/actions of the NMBA have been unknown to the ACM until the start of this week, when the midwife herself approached the ACM for support.
While the ongoing investigation by the NMBA remains confidential the ACM has received confirmation that the case involves a VBAC at home and that the midwife was reported to the NMBA by a hospital in Western Australia.
At this point in time the ACM has not been approached by the NMBA or the legal representatives of the Midwife to provide formal advice around this investigation however, the ACM position on homebirth remains that;
Women have the right to choose where and how they wish to give birth. In Australia, the majority of women will choose to give birth in a hospital or birth centre. Some women will choose to birth at home. Whatever place of birth a woman chooses, a women and her family have the right to expect that the care she receives is provided by appropriately skilled attendants and is safe.
It is the position of the Australian College of Midwives that homebirth is an appropriate place of birth for women considered to be at low obstetric risk, and that women must be supported in safe, planned homebirth, by midwives with adequate access to support, advice, and referral and transfer mechanisms.
This position supports the use of the National Competency Standards for the Midwife, the Code of Professional Conduct for Midwives in Australia, the Code of Ethics for Midwives in Australia, the Australian College of Midwives National Midwifery Guidelines for Consultation and Referral (“the Guidelines”) and the NHMRC Guidance on Collaborative Maternity Care as the appropriate resources for guiding midwives in their practice.
In Australia, registered midwives are responsible and accountable professionals who provide support, care and advice to women and their families during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period which is in accordance with the International Definition of a Midwife. As stated in this definition, such midwifery care can be provided in any setting, including the home.
The ACM Board of Directors is meeting on the 22nd July and the issue of VBAC at home (HBAC) is on the Agenda for further discussion.
Yours sincerely,
Tracy Martin
ACM President
I really do hope that something positive comes out of the Board of Directors meeting. Won't be holding my breath though...
